But dude they’re not yours
I don’t really understand why this isn’t End of Story:
The Justice Department has staunchly resisted Trump’s request, saying he cannot claim executive privilege because the records do not belong to him; they belong to the government.
“He is no longer the president,” Jay Bratt, the department’s top counterintelligence lawyer, told Cannon at a Sept. 1 hearing. “And because he is no longer president, he did not have a right to take those documents.”
Why isn’t that all there is to it? They’re not his; that’s the whole point; so how does he get to demand a special master to check them all for executive privilege blah blah blah when they’re not his?
I suppose the only answer is that the judge was appointed by the perp. It’s all just batshit crazy.
In theory the special master just makes sure things are done as fairly as possible, so hopefully that will be the case here and it will backfire on Trump as he’ll have no room to complain (not that he won’t anyway, but it might cause him to lose some defenders).
I’m cautiously optimistic this judge won’t play games, but I guess you never know.
He might go a bit less reluctantly into his cell at the Dade County Hoosegow (near Mar-a-Lago) if they paint it gold, or better still,plate it with gold; 24 carat. But then again, if they keep the lights low until he has stepped inside, they could even get away with brass. Worth a try, surely.
Skeletor, cautiously optimistic based on what? What possible reason is there to be optimistic about this?
Joyce Vance tweeted “Is it only Trump who can have a judge enjoin a criminal investigation into his conduct following execution of a judicially authorized search warrant? Either Judge Cannon thinks Trump is above the law or she’s created a new rule to benefit criminal defendants.”
Several commentators I listened to last night were optimistic; they think review will only strengthen the government’s case.
As for me, I suspect there will not be an independent review. I can’t imagine any reviewer both the DoJ and Trump can agree on. If we get agreement, it will be the DoJ who caves, and then it’s all over.
I don’t think the DoJ is going to cave.
I hope not. They definitely shouldn’t. They have the stronger position. Which is why I think we’re not likely to get any agreement on who will do the review. DJT will throw a tantrum, stomp off, and things will remain in limbo until they find enough ice cream to get him back.